Press preview: Celebrating the intricacies and surprises of printmaking

Artists share their reasons for selecting an unusual medium.

ISLAMABAD:

Due to the unavailability of printing plates and the intricate detailing that goes into making prints, the medium remains largely unexplored. To showcase the work of three young printmakers, an exhibition of prints will open at the Nomad Gallery on Tuesday.

“I chose the artists for their brilliant work. Screen printmakers, unlike painters, don’t get due recognition and we must celebrate their work,” said the gallery’s curator, Nageen Hyat.

Iram Wani talks about her work in an almost spiritual vein. “Everything is interconnected. When I feel a connection with another living thing, I become one with it and want to let it out through my art,” she said. Her featured work is an amalgamation of intricate prints on paper.

Working mostly in earthen tones with slivers of gold, copper and black, Wani has focused largely on building a connection with nature.

She learned the craft at a workshop in Grenada. One of her pieces features a rare flower native of the city. Another piece shows a human face and a robot. “These are all states of mind. We have conditioned and unconditioned selves. Artists continuously try to find a balance between following their instincts and society’s conditioning,” Wani said.

Sameera Khan’s work attempts to look at themes that revolve around personal narratives based on the changing elements taken from everyday life and questions relating to space and identity. “My work is a form of storytelling, derived from everyday life and dilemmas. Using a direct approach and combining text with imagery creates a mysterious interaction between fiction and reality,” she said.

The artists’ impression of everyday objects stylised in their individual styles. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS

Sameera has tried to explore different methods of printmaking and has incorporated prints into various media and installations. These include rock carvings found on the Silk Route, dating back to the first century BC. Sameera has merged historical and the modern elements. In one of her pieces, she has used antique paper with names of Sufi saints with a black string going up to a bright, red object.

Summiya Khan’s work is based on self-expression and self-exploration. “I love the endless possibilities of printmaking. I’m fascinated with the lines, poles and complex towers,” said Summiya. “It’s always a surprise to pull the paper from the press and see how it has come out.” To her, these objects are visual clutter that one tunes out but upon a closer look, the structures and intersections and looping lines are visually appealing. Through her work, the artist wants the viewer to consider the meaning of connection and the patterns artists have created.

All three artists have showcased command over symmetry, visual balance and a strong connection to their surroundings. The works demand the viewer ponder over intertwined details, whether it is black and white or a bold splash of colour.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2013.